Six children, in the age group of two to 11 years, have died of a mysterious disease in the tribal region of Banaskantha district of Gujarat in the last three weeks.

According to the authorities, the children had throat infection, high fever and bouts of unconsciousness. All of them were from Gangu and Khunia villages in Amirgadh tehsil.

Doctors could not identify the disease. “Six children have so far died of the mysterious disease. We have sent throat swabs of the affected children to various hospitals and are awaiting results,” said District Collector Jenu Devan.

Minister of State for Health Shankar Chaudhary had Friday visited the affected villages. A team of specialist doctors is camping in the district and studying the disease, the officer said.

“A team of pediatricians from Palanpur civil hospital visited the villages and took blood samples on Friday. They suspect it to be a case of acute respiratory infection,” District Epidemic Medical Officer N K Garg said.

Local people are calling the disease “gala ghotu.” The district administration has sounded alert to check the spread of this disease to surrounding villages. Five teams, each led by a medical officer, are surveying the affected villages and its surrounding areas, Garg said.